Solution Architect - UK Central Government

About the role

Leidos is looking for a senior, customer-facing Solution Architect to help shape and win strategic opportunities across its UK Central Government portfolio. Working with account, capture and bid teams, the role engages customers, builds solution strategies and leads solution development from early qualification through to contract award. It suits someone combining architecture credentials with experience of UK Government digital transformation programmes and competitive procurements. The position is based in London and requires regular travel across the UK.

Key responsibilities

• Engage customers early to understand mission needs, business challenges and transformation goals.
• Develop differentiated solution strategies for major public sector pursuits.
• Lead solution development from qualification, proposal and orals through to handover and delivery.
• Create solution narratives, value propositions, win themes and architectural differentiators.
• Facilitate discovery workshops, architecture reviews and solution design sessions.
• Translate complex problems into practical solutions across Data & Analytics, Cloud, Cyber Security, AI/ML, IT Service Management, Systems Integration and Digital Modernisation.
• Assess feasibility, delivery risk, commercial viability and strategic fit, and work with delivery and programme teams to keep solutions credible and cost-aware.
• Represent the solution in customer meetings, executive briefings, bid reviews and orals, and contribute reusable patterns and proposition material.

Required profile

• Proven experience with UK Central Government departments, agencies or arms-length bodies (e.g. HMRC, DWP, Defra, GDS, Cabinet Office).
• Experience supporting competitive procurements, frameworks, bids, proposals or capture activities.
• Current and valid UK Security Check (SC) clearance.
• Extensive UK experience delivering solutions for UK Government contracts.
• Able to travel regularly across the UK, with very occasional travel to the United States.

Required skills

• Cloud or architecture certifications such as Azure, AWS or TOGAF are useful but not a substitute for experience.
• Desirable: knowledge of public sector procurement frameworks, bid processes, and AI-enabled transformation, data-driven services and platform modernisation.
• Strong workshop facilitation, stakeholder management and executive communication.

What we offer

• Contributory pension scheme and private medical insurance.
• 33 days annual leave, including public and privilege holidays.
• Flexible benefits including life assurance, health schemes, gym memberships, annual buy and sell holidays and a cycle to work scheme.
• Flexi-time working.